Canon Puts Efficiency On Press
Tivoli Audio is a small, Boston-based audio company with a worldwide reputation for producing high-quality table radios for buyers who put a premium on performance and simplicity. With just three knobs, the Model One, which retails for $120, is the antithesis of today's ever more complex electronic products.
The Model One's smooth-turning tuning dial adds a retro flair, while its AM/FM tuner, using technology originally developed for cellular telephones, produces better FM reception and increased clarity on closely spaced stations. Up front you'll find a 3-inch speaker housed behind a protective metal grille. The Model One is available in a range of colors--including beige/walnut, green/maple, black/silver, cobalt/cherry and silver/white--all encased in handmade wood cabinets. The radio is 4.5 inches high, 8.38 inches wide, and 5.25 inches deep. Style-conscious buyers should check out the Platinum Series Model One: it's available in high-gloss piano-black or dark walnut/beige finish, rather than the standard wood-veneer cabinet, for $80 more.
Yes, the Model One's single speaker produces monaural, not stereo, sound. Nevertheless, AM and FM radio sound quality is remarkably good. The bass is rich; the treble is detailed but never harsh. The Model One easily bests the tinny sound of plastic department-store radios. Reception is also above par, and after we experimented with the included FM wire antenna, the Model One picked up our favorite low-power college stations.
